News Briefing and Comment

Ekklesia runs a syndicated news and events listings service for churches, journalists, organisations and charities. Hundreds of churches and organisations now carry Ekklesia's news on their web sites. You can get Ekklesia's news on your web site in seconds, or by signing up for our daily email bulletin.

British Christians concerned with the environment will be invited to put their commitments where their convictions are next weekend, at a conference to be held at Lancaster University Chaplaincy Centre.

Gordon Brown is facing mounting criticism over next week's state visit to the UK by King Abdullah. Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has repeated its call for the reopening of the Serious Fraud Office investigation.

On the southern slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro, a small bank owned by 330,000 members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania's Northern District is improving the lives of poor people, while still managing to make a profit.

In a significant demonstration of growing opposition to Britain's involvment in the arms trade, Liverpool City Council has voted unanimously in favour of pulling its pension fund out of arms investments.

The case of a boy who has been refused a bus pass because he has not been baptised as a Roman Catholic has been referred to the Equality Commission. Elliott Stewart, 11, was denied a free pass to St Leonard’s School in Durham.

Universities with Church of England foundations have been told to emphasise their Christian credentials to make it easier to dismiss staff who don’t share those values, reports The Times Higher Education Supplement.

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been urged to ratify an international convention to protect tribal ownership of land. He was presented with a letter by the president of a Brazil partner to the Catholic Aid Agency CAFOD, urging him to take action.

Two people known for their achievements in faith-based advocacy and interfaith dialogue, have been engaged by the Geneva-based World Council of Churches. The new staff members will head the programme on Public witness and the programme on Inter-religious dialogue.